The Russian Orthodox Church has decided to cancel its traditional Christmas Eve night services in the capital of the Belgorod region and all settlements located within a 20-kilimeter-wide zone alongside the Russian border with Ukraine. The city of Belgorod, located just around 40 kilometers away from the border, has been subjected to continued Ukrainian strikes for seven days in a row.
The night services will not be held in Belgorod or nearby areas, nor in the border city of Shebekino, which was also targeted by Ukrainian strikes and even ground attacks last year, as well as in a 20-kilometer-wide border zone, the church’s regional metropolitan, Ioann, told his congregation during a sermon that was also published on YouTube. Ioann also cited “the danger that besets all of us,” referring to the Ukrainian attacks. He also vowed to pray for all the victims of Kiev’s strikes that remain in hospitals.